Deputies and GCASA team up to crack down on under-age drinking at concert
Submitted by Howard Owens on June 30, 2009 - 1:21pm
The Sheriff's Office announced today that during Friday's Def Leppard/Poison concert at Darien Lake Theme Park 15 young people were arrested for alleged under-age drinking.
The operation, aimed at aggressively clamping down on under-age drinking during the concert, was co-sponsored by GCASA.
The names and ages of the people charged are:
- Kaitly M. Rozwood, 18, Blasdell
- Kayla M. Kinsley, 19, Blasdell
- Timothy L. Kiebzak, 18, Kenmore
- Brandon C. Costanzo, 20, Buffalo
- Ellie N. McGee, 18, Williamsville
- Jillian E. Pettis, 20, Williamsville
- Thomas D. Meyer, 20, Belfast
- Ashton M. Meyer, 20, Bath
- Joey J. Ruderman, 19, Cheektowaga
- Tara M. Wojtkowski, 18, Savona
- Michelle C. Schwegler, 20, North Tonowanda
- Valerie D. Kostart, 20, Noth Tonowanda
Plus one 17-year-old male and a 16-year-old male from Rochester.
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June 30, 2009 - 1:32pm
#2
Is enrollment down at GCASA that they have to sponsor raids to get more bodies under their control.When are the underage smoking raids going to start..That ones to easy,because it right in front of GCASA ..More BS....Real good use of taxpayer money...
June 30, 2009 - 2:56pm
#3
I just dont get GCASA. Its like they are on a long road to nowwhere, and we the taxpayers are paying for it. I'm still interested to know how many of these patients are from our area, and how many are from the citys, like Roch, and Buff. I would love to see some percentages. If GCASA really cared about their health, they would have them attempt to kick all their drug habits, including cigs. To the parents of the kids that got caught drinking, be supportive, guide them, repremand them, give them a chance, but dont let them fall victim to the System. Handle your family business privately.
June 30, 2009 - 1:39pm
#4
Our heroes. Saving those kids from horrors of alcohol.
GO TEMPERANCE!
June 30, 2009 - 1:42pm
#5
I guess them stickers worked !
June 30, 2009 - 2:21pm
#6
The GCASA job shop, is out to get your kids and your money. Someone better reel these government sponsored non-profit racketeers in, they are way out of control in their attempts to control other peoples lives. Man those kids must all have a real problem how could anyone even consider drinking at a concert, they must need to be enrolled in a treatment program so GCASA can get paid. GCASA = CLOWNS.
June 30, 2009 - 2:12pm
#7
So they got 15 of the hundreds and hundreds of underaged kids drinking at the concert. Give me a break. If they wanted to crack down for real they would venture up to the hill and bust 1000 all at once...idiots.
June 30, 2009 - 2:46pm
#8
How did GCASA get so entrenched with the local court systems (mandating enrollment in a GCASA "program")and local law enforcement (raids, task force, awards etc). Sounds like a political pay to play scheme to me. How are they funded and where does all the nonprofit money go. Are any political donations being made by GCASA? Sounds like they are pretty good spreading the money around to the government bodies that in turn keep sending them enough fresh pieces of meat to stay in business.
DAMMAGCASA - Drinkers Against Mad Mothers and GCASA.
June 30, 2009 - 3:08pm
#9
I find it interesting that we are critisizing our law enforcement for doing their jobs. Does anyone think about how these underage drinkers planned on getting home after the concert? I am sure they all intended on driving....or at least some of them. I am all for it, if it kept one more person from getting into a drinking and driving related accident.
June 30, 2009 - 3:10pm
#10
You are speculating. How do you know they didn't have camp sites right there at Darien? Or a hotel room? Just because they are underage doesn't mean they were irresponsible about their drinking.
June 30, 2009 - 3:45pm
#11
Posted by Marie Smith on June 30, 2009 - 3:08pm
I find it interesting that we are critisizing our law enforcement for doing their jobs. Does anyone think about how these underage drinkers planned on getting home after the concert? I am sure they all intended on driving....or at least some of them. I am all for it, if it kept one more person from getting into a drinking and driving related accident.
Marie, you make an interesting point.
Regardless if they were planning to sleep on the grass for the night, or if they were getting home on foot or by car the fact remains they were breaking the law.
Apparently, breaking the law - if done responsibly - is fine.
I guess that would hold true for robbing a bank or even committing murder...if it is done responsibly then what the heck, it has to be okay.
June 30, 2009 - 4:24pm
#12
I actually knew one of these people from the school, it's too bad. They are spending time that needs to be spent in other places.
June 30, 2009 - 4:52pm
#13
Its All Fun And Games Till The Cops Show Up, and its someone from your family, that gets in trouble. What about the 1000 other kids that didn't get caught. We are so quick to judge in our society, unless, of course its our family that is affected. Positive Parenting is the key, and believe me, I have had a time of it. I am constantly learning new ways to deal with kids today.
June 30, 2009 - 7:16pm
#14
First of all, you are totally guessing if they are driving home or not. As far as I'm concerned, DWI offenses are not an age issue. It seems pretty spread across the board. If their main concern was to "prevent dwi's" there is better ways about going around it.
To be completely honest, I've spoken with law enforcement who think that the age of 21 for drinking is ludicrous. What is the difference between pre-judging an entire race group than an entire age group??? Theoretically, you're being prejudice in both cases. I've seen 15 year old's act like they were 30 and I've seen 50 year old's act like they were 12.
I've been to many countries overseas where young kids could drink and I didn't see chaos.
June 30, 2009 - 10:52pm
#15
So GCASA is cosponsoring sting operations now. It does seem a little self serving, doesn't it? And for Richard's question as to where all that non-profit money goes, they own at least a couple of beautiful mansions on East Main Street. Like I said before, I'd love to see how much of our tax dollars they receive from Medicaid every month.
June 30, 2009 - 10:59pm
#16
Tyler, the issues isn't whether they can hold their alcohol. I agree with you that some young people can better than those that are older.
The issue is a law (whether you consider it fair or not)and until they change it, those who are underage are breaking the law and those who provide underage drinkers with alcohol are also breaking the law.
If we turn our backs and wink and say, it's okay to break it, then where do we stop?
Do we tell our young people that as long as they break the law responsibly then it is okay to do whatever they please. What will be next? They can mug someone as long as they do it with a sense of responsibility? They can steal as long as it is done with a sense of responsibility? They can break any law they want as long as they do it with responsiblity.
July 1, 2009 - 2:13am
#17
Laws aren't black and white. The actions they discourage aren't equally "wrong". If laws were black and white, town, state, and city police wouldn't turn a blind eye to people shooting of fireworks during the 4th of July week.
In our society, you can break the law and get away with it if you do it responsibly. However, that doesn't justify breaking the law in itself.
July 1, 2009 - 7:01am
#18
Bea,
No one is hurt if someone drinks responsibly under the legal drinking age. People are hurt when someone is murdered or robbed. That is the difference and its and obvious and simple one.
July 2, 2009 - 4:02pm
#19
Per the Genesee County website:
Medicaid Weekly Share
Each week, New York State collects from each county the local share (county cost) of Medicaid expenditures. On Wednesday, July 1, 2009 the State will take $150,329 from Genesee County taxpayers to support the Medicaid program. Year to Date total $4,113,322.
I wonder if there is a way to find out how much of this is paid to GCASA.
